Saturday, July 19, 2008

Vishuddhi Chakra

INTRODUCTION

The Vishuddhi Chakra represents that time in the evolution of humanity when the need for harmony and collective living became important. It represents everything to do with the cohesive nature of the human race, and the ability of the human being to rise above petty differences and strive to experience the unity of the Spirit.

Causes of Catch / ObstructionFood that is bad for the liver, fastidiousness.

Location in Human body :

QUALITY

Witness State (Detachment)

One of the qualities that we need to develop for our Spiritual growth is that of staying detached from the problems we face every day while trying to survive in the modern world. The flowering of the Vishuddhi Chakra provides us with a sense of detachment which lets us witness the “play” of life to survive in the modern world. As a result we avoid being brought down by things which seem traumatic, but are in fact simply “events” which we pass through to reach the other side. This does not mean that we stop accepting responsibility for our actions, or that we “give up” on life. It simply gives us a means to maintain a sense of perspective when we are faced with overwhelming emotional situations. We become a witness of the game,and can keep a distance from our involvement and thoughts, from our planning and conditionings, from our emotions.

After realisation our ability to be a witness matures, and we ee all of these things as existing outside ourselves. These things, these events, are not of our Spirit, they are of the external world. In this way we strip away the layers of identity to reveal our fundamental and indivisible essence, the Spirit. Shri Mataji says that “we see our own acting, and the whole world becomes like a drama”, in the same way that Shakespeare likened the whole world to a stage, and us as actors on it. The truth is that our problems are only really solved when we can “see the forest for the trees”. It is a fact that most people find that they cannot solve their own problems because they are too involved in them. That is why they seek advice from their friends (who can give a detached view of the best course of action) or in extremes from counseling agencies who act asdispassionate witnesses, if you like. After our Realisation we develop this ability within ourselves, and no matter what tests we face we start to see our role in the drama and the possible solutions with that much more clarity.

Interestingly enough some people express surprise when they encounter problems after their Realisation, as if we are all aiming to exist in an artificially sterile environment. That is not life. Life is about human endeavour and challenge, about overcoming tribulations and being all the better for it. Life is about striving for our Spiritual growth so that we become the Spirit through process of purification; at which point we will be beyond artificial states – we will be Truth. Our Yoga, our Realisation, helps us to fight this battle with all of the weapons of love in the Subtle armoury, and gives us the joy of the Spirit en route, so that we can experience the reality of ourdestination to spur us on.

Collectivity

The Vishuddhi Chakra also embodies those qualities which govern our relationship with other members of the human race. Our diplomacy in word and action is directly affected by the state of this center, as is our sense of respect, both for others and for ourselves. If we do not respect others, then we will not be able to practice a relationship of brotherhood and diplomacy with them, and so it is a very important Charka for our growth into a collective Spiritual being. Lack of respect for ourselves (which manifests as guilt) lodges itself deep in our left Vishuddhi if we let it, and this can be very harmful to our growth. A lot of guilt is the result of our upbringing, whether through moralistic or pious pressures. These external pressures are not us. We must learn not to cling to guilt, to hide ourselves in its cloak and thereby put off the day when we must face up to our weaknesses and do something about them. The Spirit does not accumulate guilt, it is Pure. After Realisation we learn to face up to and overcome our weaknesses, and thus conquer guilt once and for all. The affirmation for the left Vishuddhi is “I am not guilty”.

Our growth into a collective being is very easy to chart through our deepening awareness of vibrations. As we start to become one with the whole (as the microcosm awakens and becomesan integral part of the macrocosm) we begin to feel the direct evidence of the subtle system or our Chakras and on the Chakras of others. This is what is meant by the actualisation of Sahaja Yoga, this actual evidence of our enlightenment which we experience on our fingertips, and in our bodies. It is a fact that, as we become a collectively conscious person, we can work on the spiritual systems of others simply by recording the state of their Chakras on our fingers and directing our vibrations to their areas of need as required. It is rather like acquiring a new perception, a natural new sense… that of subtle vibrations. This brotherhood of humanity is the goal that seekers have been searching for over many lifetimes, and it is starting its manifestation at this point in time, not just through myth and conception but through direct evidence.

Hamsa Chakra

The Hamsa Chakra is a part of the Vishuddhi Chakra, and is located at the point between the eyes at the bridge of the nose. This center is related to our sense of discrimination and discretion, and it also relates to the relationship between men and women. The universal relationship between man and woman is that of brother and sister. When this relationship is transformed into that of a marriage, the institution should be accorded all due reverence as a true example of Dharma in action. Each partner should hold the other in utmost respect and esteem, and there should be no confusion of identity – a man should be a man, and woman a woman. Nor should the purpose of marriage be forgotten either; to spread love throughout society, encourage respect for the importance of the family unit and provide a vehicle for the evolution of the race through life and birth.

TRADITION

The Deity (or role model) for this center is Shri Krishna. He represented God in His aspect as the Eternal Witness. With absolute detachment He watches the Play (Leela) of the cosmic drama. His incarnation expressed humanity at the highest level to which we might aspire. He was the supreme diplomat, and expressed such humility that He saw nothing wrong in volunteering to be a chariot driver for Arjuna, the warrior. He is also the master of our Yoga, our union with the all pervasive Spirit, and as such He it is that points the way to the right techniques and goals. The Vishuddhi Chakra is also the place of the Virata, God’s manifested form in the Universe, as described in detail in Chapter II of the Bhagavad Gita: “And Arjuna saw in that radiance the whole universe in its variety, standing in a vast unity in the body of the God of Gods.” As cells in that body, united by the thread of Kundalini, we should meditate on that oneness, our brotherhood in Spirit with humanity and with the universe. We should not divorce ourselves from the whole with feelings of arrogance or inferiority. The “rugged individual” inhabits his own private myth, it is for us to become universal beings. We must seek ourselves in others, and feelthe Spirit of another person with the attitude that we are smelling a flower’s fragrance, with great sweetness.

GROSS PHYSICAL ASPECT

The Vishuddhi Chakra has sixteen petals, each with different qualities and functions. On the physical side it looks after the throat, arms, face, mouth, teeth, etc. They should therefore be taken care of properly. For instance, we should protect ourselves from extremes of cold, avoid tobacco or other pollutants which could damage the throat. We should take proper care of our teeth, and ensure that we respect everything we do with our communication with others. Our hands, for example, can be a source of grace and beauty or coarseness if used improperly. We should therefore take care to exhibit sweetness in all our actions. Our Vishuddhi Chakra is particularly important for our vibratory awareness, as the nerves which register the vibrations in the hands pass through this center. In the case of the voice box and speech, we should try andavoid using the voice in an improper way. We should avoid lying or swearing or excessively talking as this could affect the right center. Likewise the right center benefits if we use the voice for praise rather than criticism, for dignity rather than coarse frivolity. We should never be harsh or sarcastic or witty at another’s expense. We should simply aim to speak from the Heart. Another way in which this center can suffer is in the undiscriminative use of mantras. This is especially true in regard to mantras sold as commercial commodities. These are simply sensory dulling toys, which have no relationship with our Spirit. Undergoing this sort of self-hypnosis is actually anti-consciousness. We experience true growth of the Spirit through a meditation which is “aware”. There should be no blunting of the perception, there should just be a deep peace and thoughtlessness which energises and balances.

CONDITION OF THE VISHUDDHI

A weakened Vishuddhi center can show up in excessive colds, or in a sore throat or nose. In addition it is quite common to experience a sudden catch in the throat which may induce acough, from exposure to a situation harmful to the center. Any complaints of the teeth or the ears are symptoms of problems with the center. In the case of guilt, we can experience sore ortense shoulders or neck areas – quite common in the West! Finally we find ourselves talking in an uncommonly harsh way to someone, or being very sarcastic.

CLEARING THE VISHUDDHI

Clearing the Center Chakra:

Using the Elements:

The use of a candle around the Vishuddhi area is very effective.

Affirmations:

Mother, please make me part and parcel of the whole.

General Advice:

Always use adequate protection for the throat against the cold with a scarf or similar item.Also it is important to wash your hands before eating. Salt is very good for the Vishuddhi center. Gargle with salt, or put it on the tonsils with your finger. Do not neglect a sore throat, gargle morning and evening.Chew raw liquorice (commercial licorice is a fairly adequate substitute)Brush the teeth twice a day, and pay attention to their condition.Message your sinuses, neck and shouders with olive oil (or any oil containing vitamins), especially when you feel pain.Massage your head with the fingers, so that the scalp moves. Once a week massage your headwith coconut or almond oil before sleeping and then wash off the next morning.Drops of oil in the ears or throat, or drops of ghee in the nose are very effective remedies.

Clearing the Left Vishuddhi Chakra:

Using the Elements:

The candle treatment around the Vishuddhi area.

Affirmations:

Mother, I am not guilty for anything.

General Advice:

Give vibrations to the Vishuddhi Chakra.Sahaja Yoga neck massage (i.e. using vibrations).Do not speak sarcastically or cynically, and do not allow yourself to remain in a bad mood.Develop the quality of purity in brother-sister relationships.Do not excessively speak about yourself, but direct your conversation to other matters.Avoid shrugging the shoulders.

Clearing the Right Vishuddhi Chakra:

Using the Elements:

The candle treatment around the Vishuddhi area.

General Advice:

Give vibrations to the right Vishuddhi Chakra.Do not speak harshly or unkindly to others, always speak sweetly.Avoid talking too muchAvoid arguments, when you argue with a person you simply suck in his negativity.

Clearing the Hamsa Chakra:

Using the Elements:

The candle treatment around the Hamsa area at the bridge of the nose.

General Advice:

A couple of drops of melted ghee or oil in the nose or down the back of the throat.Try eating food that is saucy rather than overly dry.